Data and Methods for Estimating Indicators

Table 1 provides a summary of the data sources and availability for our indicators. Most data sources used in the analysis are either U.S. Census sources or National Center for Education Statistics Sources and in most cases the primary sampling unit is the Local Education Agency or School District. In some cases, school level data were aggregated to the school district level. School district characteristics were obtained through the NCES Common Core of Data, Local Education Agency Universe Survey. This survey also provided the data on unified district, elementary district or secondary district status and data on enrollment. The primary source of financial data for the analysis is the U.S. Census Bureau F-33 survey, or survey of local government finances for elementary and secondary education. Though somewhat delayed during the summer of 2009, the 2006-07 school year data were eventually released in late July. One problematic aspect of using these data is that they are, and will be for the foreseeable future, lagged by two full years. This report will be accompanied by additional state follow-up analyses which account for substantive changes to state school finance system